Determination of a catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor, nitecapone, in human plasma and urine by liquid chromatography

Methods based on reversed-phase liquid chromatography with amperometric detection have been developed for determination of nitecapone, 3-(3,4-dihydroxy-5-nitrobenzylidene)-2,4-pentanedione, a COMT inhibitor, in human plasma and urine. Nitecapone was extracted with ethyl acetate-hexane mixtures from plasma after acidification with hydrochloric acid and from urine as the tetrabutylammonium ion-pair of its diphenylborate derivative. The recoveries of both methods exceeded 70% and the relative standard deviations for within-day precision were less than 4% and 8% at 50 ng ml-1 and at the quantitation limits, respectively. The methods are selective, sensitive and precise enough for determination of 4-5 ng ml-1 of nitecapone in plasma and urine and are thus suitable for the kind of pharmacokinetic studies exemplified in this paper.     

Pharmacokinetics of entacapone, a peripherally acting catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor, in man

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the pharmacokinetics of the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor entacapone by giving simultaneously stable non-radioactive isotope 13C-entacapone intravenously (i.v.) and unlabelled entacapone orally. In comparison with a crossover design, the simultaneous i.v. and oral administration made it possible to minimise intra-individual variation, sample size and the duration of the study and still obtain accurate pharmacokinetic data. METHODS: Eight healthy male volunteers were enrolled in this study. They were given a 20-mg i.v. dose of 13C-entacapone as a 1-mg/ml infusion at a constant rate of 5 mg/min over 4 min and a 100-mg dose of unlabelled entacapone orally immediately after the infusion. Blood samples were drawn at -5 (before onset of infusion), 0 (upon termination of infusion), 2, 5, 10, 20, 30 and 45 min and 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 12 h after the tablet ingestion. Urine during the 48 h after dosing was collected in fractions. Concentrations of 13C-entacapone and entacapone in plasma samples and urine fractions were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The decay of i.v. 13C-entacapone in plasma was tri-exponential and its pharmacokinetics were described using an open three-compartment model. The volume of the central compartment (Vc) and the volume of distribution at steady state (Vss) were 0.08+/-0.03 l/kg and 0.27+/-0.10 l/kg, respectively. Total plasma clearance (Cltot) averaged 11.7+/-1.9 ml/min kg(-1). The half-lives for the distribution phase and for the rapid and terminal elimination phases (t1/2alpha, t1/2beta and t1/2gamma) were 0.05+/-0.01 h, 0.38+/-0.16 h and 2.40+/-1.70 h, respectively. The terminal elimination phase accounted for only 9% of the total area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC), which was 409 +/- 98 ng h/ml after the i.v. dose. Oral entacapone was absorbed rapidly with a time to reach the peak concentration (tmax) of 0.9+/-0.4 h, a maximum concentration (Cmax) of 457+/-334 ng/ml and an AUC of 497+/-118 ng h/ml. During the 48 h after dosing, the recovery of free and conjugated unchanged 13C-entacapone in urine was 38.1+/-7.2% of the i.v. dose and the recovery of free and conjugated unchanged entacapone 13.3+/-3.9% of the oral dose. The bioavailability of oral entacapone was 25% based on the AUC values and 35% based on urinary excretion. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study using stable isotope technique indicate that entacapone is rapidly absorbed, distributed to a small volume and rapidly eliminated by mainly non-renal routes. The pharmacokinetic profile of entacapone provides the rationale for a concomitant and frequently repeated simultaneous dosing of entacapone with levodopa and dopa decarboxylase inhibitors in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. This study confirmed the previously published data and fully support the validity of the technique used.     

Biochemical and pharmacological properties of a peripherally acting catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor entacapone

Summary Entacapone, OR-611, was found to be a potent peripherally acting inhibitor of catechol-O-methyl-transferase (COMT). IC₅₀ values of 10 nmol/1 and 160 nmol/1 were obtained for rat duodenum and liver-soluble COMT, respectively. There were no effects on other catecholamine metabolizing enzymes. Entacapone showed reversible, tight-binding type of inhibition of soluble rat liver COMT with a K; value of 14 nmol/1 and it also caused 50% inhibition of rat duodenal, erythrocyte, liver and striatal COMT activity 1 h after oral dosing with 1.1, 5.4, 6.7 and 24.2 mg/kg, respectively. However, penetration of entacapone into the brain was poor, since the formation of homovanillic acid (HVA), the O-methyl metabolite of dopamine in the striatum, was not reduced, even after the highest dose of 30 mg/kg.In rat blood serum, the concentration of 3-0-methyldopa (3OMD), the O-methylated product of l-dopa, was reduced in a dose-dependent manner, and the concentration of l-dopa was increased after the administration of entacapone (3 - 30 mg/kg p. o.) together with l-dopa + carbidopa. These changes were reflected, in the striatum, by a significant rise in the dopamine concentration and a reduction in the 30MD concentration.Consequently, when entacapone was added to the treatment with l-dopa + carbidopa, the dose of l-dopa could be lowered from 50 mg/kg to 15 mg/kg in order to produce the same striatal dopamine concentrations as with 50 + 50 mg/kg of l-dopa + carbidopa alone.Correspondence to E. Nissinen at the above address     

Liquid chromatographic analysis of atenolol enantiomers in human plasma and urine

A sensitive, stereospecific high-performance liquid chromatographic assay of atenolol (AT) enantiomers in human plasma and urine was developed. After addition of internal standard (IS, methoxamine) and alkalinization of the plasma, the drug and IS were extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was evaporated and, after addition of saturated sodium carbonate, the residue was derivatized with (-)-menthyl chloroformate at ambient temperature; the reaction was complete within 30 s, with an efficiency of 97.2 +/- 2.6%. The diastereomeric derivatives of AT and IS were then extracted into chloroform and analyzed on a C18 column with a mobile phase consisting of water: acetonitrile: methanol. The samples were detected utilizing a fluorescent detector. Water-diluted urine samples were derivatized directly and then subjected to the same procedure as plasma. Under these conditions, AT diastereomers were separated with a resolution factor of 1.94, free of any interfering peak. An excellent linear relationship (r greater than or equal to 0.998) was obtained between the peak area ratios and the corresponding concentrations in the ranges 12.5-250 and 250-2500 ng/mL for plasma and urine, respectively. The applicability of the method is demonstrated by analysis of plasma and urine concentrations of individual enantiomers of AT after oral administration of a single 100-mg dose to a healthy subject.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of ampicillin and its metabolites in human urine by postcolumn alkaline degradation

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of ampicillin (I) and its metabolites [5R,6R)-penicilloate (II), the (5S,6R)-epimer (III), and piperazine-2,5-dione (IV)) in human urine. The assay was based on the measurement of the absorbance at 300 nm following the postcolumn alkaline degradation with 0.75 M sodium hydroxide, 2 X 10(-3) M mercuric chloride, and 1 X 10(-2) M ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt in solution. The limits of accurate determination were 0.5 microgram mL-1 for I, 2.0 microgram mL-1 for II and III, and 1.0 microgram mL-1 for IV in neat urine samples with a 10 microL injection. At concentrations of compounds I-IV of 5 micrograms mL-1, within- and between-run precisions were 1.10-4.03% and 0.93-2.34%, respectively. The urinary levels of I and its metabolites were quantified by the proposed method.     

Simultaneous high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of carbamazepine and its principal metabolites in human plasma and urine

A rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic method is described for the simultaneous determination of carbamazepine and the 10,11-epoxide, 10,11-dihydroxy, and 2-hydroxy metabolites of carbamazepine. The chromatographic system involves the use of a 18C-microsorb, reversed-phase column with acetonitrile/water (28:72) as the mobile phase. Detection and quantitation are monitored by ultraviolet absorption at 212 nm. The compounds are extracted from 250 microliters of plasma or from 100 microliters urine with methyl-t-butyl ether and 0.1 M sodium hydroxide; 2-methylcarbamazepine is added as internal standard. If phenytoin and/or phenobarbital are present in plasma or urine samples, it is necessary to use 1.0 M sodium hydroxide. The limits of quantitation for carbamazepine and its metabolites are 10 ng/ml.     

High-pressure liquid chromatographic determination of ranitidine, a new H2-receptor antagonist, in plasma and urine

An assay is described for the determination of a new H2-receptor antagonist, ranitidine, and its desmethyl metabolite in human plasma and urine. Alkalinized plasma or urine was extracted with methylene chloride, the organic phase was evaporated, and the reconstituted residue was analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography using a reversed-phase column. Two other identified metabolites of ranitidine, the S-oxide and N-oxide, were separated chromtographically from both ranitidine and the desmethyl metabolite. However, these metabolites could not be quantitative due to poor analytical recovery and interference from endogenous components. The sensitivity limits were 5 ng/ml for ranitidine and 15 ng/ml for desmethylranitidine. Plasma samples from two volunteers who were given oral ranitidine (0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 mg/kg) at 1-week intervals were assayed. Peak levels of 30--130 ng/ml were achieved between 40 and 120 min after dosage, followed by an elimination half-life of 2.9-3.9 hr. Plasma levels of ranitidine were still detectable at 8 hr but were below the sensitivity of the assay by 24 hr. Plasma levels of the desmethyl metabolite were seldom above the threshold sensitivity of the assay. Urinary excretion of unmetabolized ranitidine accounted for 77% of the administered dose, whereas only 4% appeared as desmethylranitidine.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of fexofenadine in human plasma with fluorescence detection

A simple and sensitive method was developed for determination of fexofenadine by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Fexofenadine in human plasma was extracted on a C18 bonded-phase extraction cartridge. The mobile phases were: (A) 0.05 M KH2PO4 buffer/acetonitrile/methanol (60:35:10, v/v/v) and (B) 0.05 M KH2PO4 buffer/acetonitrile (40:60, v/v). Chromatographic separation was achieved on an ODS-80A column (150 mm x 4.6 mm i.d., particle size 5 microm) using a linear gradient from A to B in 10 min. The peak was detected using a fluorescence detector set at Ex 220 nm and Em 290 nm, and the total time for a chromatographic separation was approximately 17 min. The validated quantitation ranges of this method were 1.0-500 ng/ml with coefficients of variation of 0.6-9.1%. Mean recoveries were 72.8-76.7% with coefficients of variation of 2.7-5.8%. This method is successfully applicable for therapeutic drug monitoring in patients treated with clinical doses of fexofenadine and for analyses within pharmacokinetic studies.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of aspirin and its metabolites in plasma and urine

A simple quantitative method for the rapid determination of aspirin and its metabolites, salicylic acid, salicyluric acid, and gentisic acid, in plasma and urine using o-toluic and o-anisic acids, respectively, as internal standards was developed. Plasma proteins were precipitated by the addition of acetonitrile and, after centrifugation, the supernatant fluid was injected directly onto a reverse-phase column. The mobile phase consisted of an isocratic mixture of water, methanol, and glacial acetic acid (64:25:1, v/v/v) and the separated components were detected at 238 nm using a UV detector. Concentrations greater than or equal to 0.5 microgram/ml could be quantitated for aspirin or its metabolites in plasma. The peak heights and peak height ratios to the internal standard, o-toluic acid, were linear for the concentration range of 0.5-200 micrograms/ml. The aspirin metabolites in urine were isolated by extracting the acidified urine with either and then reextracting the material into an aqueous buffer solution at pH 7.0. Twenty microliters of the buffer extract was directly injected onto the column. The separated components were detected and quantitated at 305 nm. Concentrations greater than or equal to 5 micrograms/ml of salicyluric acid, salicylic acid, and gentisic acid could be determined accurately. The peak heights and peak height ratios to the internal standard, o-anisic acid, were found to be linear for the concentration range of 5-200 micrograms/ml in urine.     

Gas chromatographic determination of verapamil in plasma and urine

A gas-liquid chromatographic method for the determination of verapamil in body fluids has been developed. Verapamil and internal standard are extracted from alkalized fluid with heptane and then back extracted into 1 N HCl. After re-extraction into heptane, verapamil and internal standard are analysed by gas-liquid chromatography using a nitrogen-specific detector (N-FID). The method is specific for verapamil. Concentrations can be measured down to 4 ng ml-1 plasma. The coefficients of variation in plasma samples were 5--8% (within-day; range of concentration 5--30 ng ml-1). Recovery in this range was 100 +/- 6.2% during several weeks.     

Chronopharmacology of nebicapone,a new catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor

Abstract

Objective:

To investigate the chronopharmacology of nebicapone, a new catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor currently being developed for use as an adjunct to levodopa/carbidopa or levodopa/benserazide in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of the enantiomers of flecainide in human plasma and urine

A stereospecific high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of (R,S)-flecainide acetate [(R,S)-N-(2-piperidylmethyl)-2,5-bis-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)benzam ide acetate] in human plasma and urine is described. After addition of the internal standard [IS; (R,S)-N-(2-piperidylmethyl)-2,3-bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)- benzamide hydrochloride], a single-step extraction of alkalinized samples was performed with distilled diethyl ether. The organic layer was evaporated and the drug and IS were derivatized with 1-[(4-nitrophenyl)sulfonyl]-L-propyl chloride at 80 degrees C for 2 h. The diastereomeric derivatives of flecainide and IS were chromatographed on a C18 reversed-phase column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile: water:triethylamine (45:55:0.2) at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. Flecainide diastereomers were separated with a resolution factor of 1.25 and detected by UV spectroscopy at a wavelength of 280 nm. An excellent linearity was observed between the peak area ratios (flecainide derivatives:IS) and plasma concentrations, and the intra- and interday coefficients of variation were always less than 9.8%. The lowest quantifiable concentration was set at 50 ng/mL for each enantiomer (CV of 4.9 and 4.4%), while the lowest limit of detection (signal:noise, 3:1) was on the order of a few nanograms. The assay was used to study the pharmacokinetics of flecainide enantiomers in a patient receiving (R,S)-flecainide therapy. The steady-state plasma time courses for the enantiomers were found to be parallel, but the difference between (R)- and (S)-flecainide concentrations was significant. The urinary excretion data were consistent with the plasma results. The method is suitable for therapeutic monitoring of flecainide enantiomers and for stereoselective pharmacokinetic studies in humans.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of dihydralazine and hydralazine in human plasma and its application to pharmacokinetic studies of dihydralazine

An analytical method is described for the concurrent determination of dihydralazine (1) and hydralazine (2) in human plasma as unchanged or apparent compounds. For the assay of the unchanged compounds, plasma samples were acidified with 0.02 M HCI and derivatized first with nitrous acid, and afterwards with sodium methylate. For the assay of the apparent compounds, plasma samples were acidified with 3 M HCI, incubated at 90 degrees C for 30 min and derivatized as above. The derivatives were extracted and chromatographed by reversed-phase mode on a C18 mu Bondapak column. The fluorescence of the compounds was measured (excitation wavelength = 230 nm, emission wavelength = 430 nm). The limits of quantitation were 0.5 ng/mL for the unchanged compounds and 1 ng/ml for the apparent compounds. After oral administration of 25 mg of 1 to 2 healthy volunteers, the mean areas under the plasma concentration-time curves were respectively 43.7 and 590 ng X h/mL for unchanged and apparent 1. The corresponding mean elimination half-lives were 1.03 and 3.9 h. The mean area under the curve measured for 2 amounted to 6.3% of that obtained for 1 for the unchanged compounds and to 10.3% for the apparent compounds.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of six antiepileptic drugs and two metabolites in microsamples of human plasma.

A simple, rapid, sensitive, and reproducible high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for simultaneous determination of the antiepileptic drugs (ethosuximide, primidone, lamotrigine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, and carbamazepine) and two metabolites (carbamazepine-diol and carbamazepine-epoxide) in human plasma is described. The procedure involves extraction of the drugs from human plasma (100 microL) with ether using 9-hydroxymethyl-10-carbamyl acridan as an internal standard. The extract was evaporated and reconstituted with mobile phase and then injected onto the chromatograph. The drugs and the internal standard were eluted from a Supelcosil LC-18 stainless steel column at ambient temperature with a mobile phase consisting of a 0.01M phosphate buffer/methanol/acetonitrile (65/18/17, v/v/v) adjusted to a pH of 7.5 with phosphoric acid and a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The effluent was monitored at 220 nm. Quantitation was achieved by using peak area ratio of each drug to the internal standard. The intraassay and interassay coefficients of variation (CV) ranged from 2.43% to 6.25% and from 3.02% to 5.85%, respectively. The absolute (extraction) and relative (analytical) recoveries for the drugs ranged from 70.7% to 104.4% and from 88.3% to 106.1%, respectively. Stability tests showed that the drugs were stable in plasma for at least 4 weeks when stored at -20 degrees C. The method was applied clinically for monitoring the AEDs in epileptic patients.     

Liquid chromatographic analysis of triamterene and its major metabolite, hydroxytriamterene sulfate, in blood, plasma, and urine

The first rapid and highly sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay for triamterene, hydroxytriamterene, and hydroxytriamterene sulfate is reported. Plasma samples were processed by protein precipitation, while urine was used untreated. Three different solvent systems were used to analyze (a) triamterene in plasma (30% acetonitrile, pH 4.0; internal standard: furosemide; sensitivity limit: 1 ng/mL); (b) hydroxytriamterene and hydroxytriamterene sulfate in plasma (12% acetonitrile, pH 5.5; internal standard: cefamandole; sensitivity limits: 20 and 2 ng/mL, respectively) and (c) triamterene, hydroxytriamterene, and hydroxytriamterene sulfate in urine (13% acetonitrile, pH 5.3; internal standard: hydroflumethiazide; sensitivity limits: 0.04 microgram/mL, 0.5 microgram/mL, and 0.1 microgram/mL, respectively). Fluorescence detection of compounds was performed at 365-nm excitation and 440-nm emission wavelengths. Recovery of triamterene and its metabolites from plasma was complete, and calibration curves were linear. Intraday variation was less than 6% except for the lowest plasma concentration. The assay procedure has already been used in several pharmacokinetic studies.     

Determination of lorajmine and its metabolite ajmaline in plasma and urine by a new high-performance liquid chromatographic method.

Lorajmine is a monochloroacetyl derivative of ajmaline with electrophysiological properties somewhat different from those of the compound of origin. Since lorajmine is rapidly hydrolyzed to ajmaline by plasma and tissue esterases, it is crucial to measure plasma levels of both drugs separately. A major problem in assaying lorajmine is its chemical instability in plasma both after blood sampling and during the extraction procedure. Furthermore, lorajmine (unlike ajmaline) is not fluorescent and has a very low UV absorbance, so the standard detectors for high-performance liquid chromatography cannot be used. We describe a new method that solves the problems of instability and sensitivity. Plasma esterases are first blocked pharmacologically (neostigmine); ajmaline is then measured by direct on-column injection of samples. Last, lorajmine is completely converted to ajmaline, extracted, and measured with a fluorescence detector. The molar concentration of ajmaline obtained in the last step, minus that found by direct injection, gives the concentration of lorajmine. Some examples of pharmacokinetic applications are also given.